Reef Check volunteers visit marine protected areas (MPAs), and make observatory dives counting species of interest. In 2013, Reef Check got a grant from Google to improve their data entry portal and data visualization interface and asked GreenInfo to work with them on these tasks.

Reef Check volunteers visit marine protected areas (MPAs), and make observatory dives counting species of interest. In 2011, GreenInfo Network participated in building their original data entry portal, enabling divers to enter their findings to Reef Check's database. In 2013, Reef Check got a grant from Google to develop an interface for visualizing the observations, and GreenInfo Network was awarded the project.

The Reef Check Map gives an easy and powerful for selecting sites of interest and species of interest, then showing their relative densities onto the map. In addition, time line charts display the changes in each species over time, and the shift in observations and locations over time. The resulting information can be downloaded as an Excel spreadsheet or a KML, for further analysis.

Of technical interest, is the similarity and distinction between the California data and the Tropical (non-California) data. The California data and the observations for the rest of the world, come from different organizations, one providing GreenInfo with a SQLite database and the other providing a MySQL database on their server. The two query endpoints have the same inputs and outputs, though, so the application seamlessly handles data from both sources.

Results: Reef Check are very pleased with the results: an easy but powerful interactive visualization of their divers' data.

GreenInfo Network

GreenInfo Network creates, analyzes, visualizes and communicates information in the public interest. We specialize in mapping and related technology for nonprofits and public agencies, focusing on using it for conservation, social equity, public health, environment and foundation grant making.